Albuquerque, NM

Acknowledge yourself. Congratulate yourself. Even REWARD
yourself. Be grateful! Think about what feels GOOD to you
instead of what doesn't because THEN you are focusing on what
you want instead of the lack of it (and what you think about you
are "impressing" on the Formless).

So, yeah, some things fell through the cracks. Take a look at
that, too, WITHOUT the drama. Re-evaluate those things. Maybe
you didn't follow through because they weren't really all that
important to you after all. Or maybe your inner self realized
that you simply weren't yet ready to take any action that would
be truly useful.

Then, let the past go and move on.

Think of all the experiences you've had and the good you've
gained from each (even the ones that didn't feel so good at
first).

Think of all the good of every kind that you've enjoyed.

How about the love you've given and received? The happiness
you've experienced and helped create for others?

Marcus Aurelius said, "Take full account of what excellencies
you possess, and in gratitude remember how you would hanker
after them, if you had them not."

Good for you, my friend! YOU possess MANY "excellencies."
Congratulations on your year of accomplishment and growth! And
"bon voyage" on your coming year of adventure!

__________

2nd. Give up the all-or-nothing, only-perfection-will-do
approach.
__________

It's doomed from the start. And it's a major form of scarcity
thinking. ("This isn't enough. There isn't enough. I'm not
enough." Or, "This isn't good enough. I'm not good enough.")

If that just gave you a kick in the stomach because you're a
"perfectionist," well, good.

Truth is, if you think that you are, it's proof that you're not.

What you really are is an IMperfectionist because you're looking
at everything trying to find what's NOT perfect about it. And
especially in yourself.

You're putting your focus on that, so that sense of what's
lacking is what you're impressing on the Formless Substance.

Look, you can't "break" a resolution by "messing up" just once
or even a bunch of times. Whenever you notice you've gotten a
bit off-course (and you can always tell simply by paying
attention to how you FEEL), then get back on-track by shifting
your thoughts over to something that feels good -- like the
having of something you want.

The Apollo 11 rocket which landed people on
the moon for the first time back in 1969 was
off-course 97% of the time. In other words, it
was only ON-course a tiny 3% of its journey.
And yet that rocket managed to hit its target
and accomplish its mission.

Keep it simple: Pay attention. Correct your course. Continue
feeling good.

No need to be perfect. No need to get bent out of shape when
you're not, because, in fact, that negative feeling shows that
you're heading AWAY from what you desire.

(And remember: You ARE enough. You are WAY more than merely
"enough." You have access to "all the mind there is!")

__________

3rd. Follow Mr. Wattles' advice to be "clear and specific."
__________

Lots of people come up with lengthy laundry lists of of vague,
wishy-washy "resolutions" with no real "oomph" in them. Often we
don't even REALLY care about them at all. They're just
fashionable or what we think we "should" care about, or based on
what we think other people expect of us.

(Meanwhile, those other people aren't
thinking about US at all; they're too busy
wondering what other people are thinking
about THEM!)

What do I mean? You know, "resolutions" like this:

I'll lose this extra weight.
I'll be a better ____ (parent/son/daughter/friend/spouse), etc.
I'll clear my card debt.

Unclear statements like this can NEVER engender any real
enthusiasm. As a matter of fact, they're far more likely to
cause you to feel bad rather than good because they all focus on
something that's MISSING rather than on what's truly desired.

So the disappointing results we harvest later on should come as
no surprise.

This year, how about taking some time (if you haven't done so
already) to sit alone quietly and reflect on what it is you
TRULY WANT to be, do, and have in your life?

Play with the idea, focus your energy of attention on it until
it's clear and sharp and big enough to be EXCITING to you, until
you feel WONDERFUL just thinking about it. (It doesn't matter at
all what anyone else might think of it.)

Remember the man in The Science of Getting Rich who after
achieving some initial success realized that he hadn't asked
enough? Remember what he did then?

"He went through the house in which he lived,
and planned all the improvements he would
like to make in it. He mentally added a bay
window here and a room there until it was
complete in his mind as his ideal home, and
then he planned its furnishings."

Nothing vague, hazy, or so-so there. He got clear about what he
truly wanted -- what he felt real enthusiasm for -- a mental
picture complete in every detail.

"Holding the whole picture in his mind, he
began living in the certain way and moving
toward what he wanted -- and he owns the house
now and is rebuilding it after the form of
his mental image. And now, with still larger
faith, he is going on to get greater things."

Nothing vague about his results either!

It seems he followed Mr. Wattles' advice to think about what he
desired in a way that let him "enter at once into the full
enjoyment" of that desire.

So there you have it, my friend. If you're still thinking of
making a resolution for this year -- or RE-making some! -- why
not do it in a way that's enjoyable, builds faith and
self-esteem, and actually points you in the direction of success?

That means choosing to think about what feels
good to you and letting go of what doesn't.

(And while you're at it, you might as well go ahead and give
back all that borrowed farm equipment you've been meaning to
return ...) ;-D